Dear Canada, I am genuinely sorry.
As you have noted, “Canada and the United States (U.S.) have built a thriving economic, military, and security partnership that has created vast opportunities and longstanding prosperity for both countries.”
Unfortunately, it became necessary for the Government of Canada to provide “resources and solutions to help Canadians manage the potential effects of the evolving Canada-United States relationship.”
I don’t need to tell you that 13 U.S. states, seven Canadian provinces, and one territory share the 5525-mile/8892 km border. Most Canadians – two out of three – live within 100 kilometers of the border.
I’ll admit that it was strange to hear the usually polite Canadian fans booing the Star-Spangled Banner at the sporting events. I realized, of course, that this wasn’t disdain for Americans writ large, but rather one particular cruel and vulgar bully.
51st state indeed! Your land mass exceeds that of the United States. I wonder if he even knows that? Initially, I thought it was just a way to belittle your previous prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
Credentials
By the way, I liked Mark Carney a great deal. I saw him on The Daily Show when Jon Stewart interviewed him a few months ago. At the time, he was being cagey about whether he was entering the race to replace Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal Party. He certainly had the bona fides as an economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. And he ended up leading not just his party but also becoming the PM.
So when TACO suggests the 51st state status to Prime Minister Carney, he politely declined. When 8647 said, “Never say never,” it was the “tell” of a predator. The Seditionist said that Canada could be under the US “golden dome” for $61 billion or, with the old 51st state canard, for free. Of course, the dome doesn’t exist, and will cost far more than suggested.
At least FOTUS has engendered Canadian political activism.
Just be Canada
I really like your travel advice to Canadians visiting the US. Americans know so little about our neighbor to the north that we ought to be required to watch Heritage minutes.
My buddy Kelly loves Toronto. My family visited the city in 2011. At one point, I said to my wife, “I could live here.” I’ve been to Montreal twice, back in 1991 and 1992. When I was in Detroit in 1998, my friend Sarah and I filled up with petrol in London, ON, which was cheaper.
But the place I’ve been most often, starting as a child, is on both sides of Niagara Falls. While I’ve always stayed at a hotel or camp on the American side, I always made it across the Peace Bridge, often on foot. It reminds me of the historic bond between our two countries.
So, to the degree you can, please ignore the Orange Man. The underlying bond that the two countries share will survive this.
I hope you accept the apology.
Nice article Rog. Canadiens have long been our best neighbor and don’t deserve the Trump disrespect .
Well put, Roger! I have a few American friends and lots of Canadian ones (naturallly) and both sides are leery about crossing the border now. That is so sad! What I cannot understand is how “he” was even allowed to run for ANY political seat when he has been convicted of 11(I think) felonies!! Why was he not stopped at the beginning? He is a criminal! I recently had a British visitor who wanted to go to the USA (I’m just north of Washington state) but I told her “No way I’m crossing over” and she only had a visa for Canada. It’s a sad AND dangerous situation!
Hope you’re well, though.